Dealership Service Recommendations and Price?

F

FireEngineer

New member
Afternoon Everyone,

Last time I took my 08 V6 SR5 4WD (never tow, rarely drive on dirt, mostly an on-road DD) in for service they recommended the following service:

Power Steering Fluid Flush (Say it is too dark) - $119.95
EFI Service (Fuel Injectors, correct?) - $139.95
Fuel Induction Cleaning Service - $129.95
4x4 Differential Service - $109.95
Alignment - $69.95

I haven't noticed any issues with my power steering (no noise, extra effort, etc.) - so why should I flush P/S fluid?

I haven't noticed poor mpg - so why should I get EFI and Induction service?

I haven't noticed any trouble engaging 4wd or any bad noises when I engage it for a day or so every month (as suggested by manual) - so why should I get diff service?

I don't notice any pulling or vibration or uneven tread wear - so why should I get an alignment?


SO - it seems to me like NONE of this stuff is actually needed.

ALSO - I checked the toyota suggested service intervals and none of these things are listed anywhere near my mileage.

Anyone have any insight?

Thanks! -Brandon
 
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Typical customer at the dealer----->:frisky: <------Typical service salesman at the dealer.

You my friend are a T4R.org member and know their tactics! If you are a DIY guy , I might go ahead and tackle the differentials yourself first. If you feel the need to go messing w/ other stuff, find some thread write ups and follow them. For the fuel side, I'd hit it w/ some Lucas, Seafoam or Techron at fill up and let it be. Some guys on here have been happy w/ cleaning the Throttle body and resetting the EFI by pulling fuses....read up on that maybe?

Did they even offer a free alignment check prior to "selling" you one?

So what is your mileage? And could they justify why their recommendations are better than the Toyota scheduled maintenance?
 
how many miles are you at

im a dealer tech and have never ever recomended a p/s fluid flush who does that..

efi service only if your over 100k

diff service is always a good idea..

alighnment only if you just got tires put on, a lift, or notice poor wear of the tires
 
Took mine in yesterday at 107K for service and to check my security system out and they almost gave me the same recommendations. They wanted to flush the power steering and brake fluid and clean the fuel injectors. I respectully declined. They also recommended that I replace my front brakes and turn the rotors. Now since I am the second owner and I have put over 30k miles on it since I bought it, I reluctantly agreed to this because I have no clue when/if it has ever been done.

The last time I took it in (about 2 months ago), they told me that I had a ball joint seal starting to leak and it needed to be replaced. I told them that I would do it at the next service as I was actually trying to get out of town for a family emergency. But this time, it was not even brought up.

And they wonder why they are called Stealers!!!
 
Conspearasea said:
Typical customer at the dealer----->:frisky: <------Typical service salesman at the dealer.

You my friend are a T4R.org member and know their tactics! If you are a DIY guy , I might go ahead and tackle the differentials yourself first. If you feel the need to go messing w/ other stuff, find some thread write ups and follow them. For the fuel side, I'd hit it w/ some Lucas, Seafoam or Techron at fill up and let it be. Some guys on here have been happy w/ cleaning the Throttle body and resetting the EFI by pulling fuses....read up on that maybe?

Did they even offer a free alignment check prior to "selling" you one?

So what is your mileage? And could they justify why their recommendations are better than the Toyota scheduled maintenance?
Click to expand...

No they didn't offer a free alignment.

I have 65K miles.

They did not justify any of their recommendations.

ilovethedealer said:
how many miles are you at

im a dealer tech and have never ever recomended a p/s fluid flush who does that..

efi service only if your over 100k

diff service is always a good idea..

alighnment only if you just got tires put on, a lift, or notice poor wear of the tires
Click to expand...

I guess I don't even know what "diff service" really is. What is typically done on a 4wd for "diff service"?

Flying Biker said:
Took mine in yesterday at 107K for service and to check my security system out and they almost gave me the same recommendations. They wanted to flush the power steering and brake fluid and clean the fuel injectors. I respectully declined. They also recommended that I replace my front brakes and turn the rotors. Now since I am the second owner and I have put over 30k miles on it since I bought it, I reluctantly agreed to this because I have no clue when/if it has ever been done.

The last time I took it in (about 2 months ago), they told me that I had a ball joint seal starting to leak and it needed to be replaced. I told them that I would do it at the next service as I was actually trying to get out of town for a family emergency. But this time, it was not even brought up.

And they wonder why they are called Stealers!!!
Click to expand...

Yeah I bought mine with 40K miles so I understand the desire for peace of mind.

Thank you all very much for the replies! I scheduled the following maintenance:

- Oil change
- Tire rotation
- Spark plug replacement
- Brake Inspection
- Propeller shaft lube
- Multi-point Inspection

If I find out diff service is something to do, I may add that...
 
Chaz - I agree, it just sucks living in an apartment complex where I don't really have the space to properly get involved in diy. I've also been inordinately busy with work lately and don't have the time i'd like to do the research, get the tools, and do the job myself. One of these days...

I don't know if they were going to flush with the fluid, I didn't stick around to ask, I just had them do the standard stuff - i'll have to figure it out after thanksgiving, hopefully my car doesn't stop working because I didn't follow their recommendations... :cheers:
 
Power Steering Fluid Flush I call BS on that. I've owned multiple cars with over 200,000 mile and never, NEVER flushed the power steering fluid.

EFI Service Run a good brand of fuel system cleaner thru a tank at each oil change. You'll probably NEVER need injector service.

Fuel Induction Cleaning Service huh?

4x4 Differential Service Fluid changes at 60,000 - 100,000 miles won't hurt, depending on your conditions.

Alignment If the car isn't pulling or showing signs of abnormal tire wear, leave it alone.
 
If you look at the your list, you'll notice they are all services that can be done by a high school kid that can operate dealer's purposed built machine for each task. Of course, with the exception to alignment and differential.

Be aware, it's not just the dealer, corner shops have also been known to do the same. My in-law's trusted corner shop have been suggesting her with the following maintenance schedule for her 2009 Toyota.

Oil change every 3000 miles
air filter change every 10000 miles
Transmission Fluid flush every 15000 miles (mind you this is the WS fluid that Toyota strongly recommend against flushing with none WS type fluid)

The list goes on and on. I can only guess this "trusted shop" must have recently pick up a fluid flushing machine and hired a kid out of high school....

B
 
Oh, forgot mention. Differential fluid change may be a good idea or you ever tow anything. Even, if you never tow anything, I'll still at least change out the factory fluid. When I change my out the other day at 43k miles, the magnetic was covered in metal shaving.... Not uncommon for factory differential fluid, but I'll rather get rid of the metal shaving then leaving it on the plug.

B
 
what?! a trans. fluid flush every 15,000 miles?! thats like once a year, if a shop said that to me, id run away fast.
 
Why is everyone bashing the power steering flush. While your car might not need it now, isn't it just like any other fluid that thins out or get s dirty over time. So you are telling me that if you look at your engine oil at 5k or 10k and its not dirty your not going to change it? Power steering fluid runs at high pressure throught the lines at a high temp and is often negelected. I also think that if you wait til any fluid is too dark or discolored you waited too long. Sure engine oil turns a different color while its running but would you feel comfortable if you drained it and its very black. All fluid need to be changed on a regular basis just to maintain the fluid quality IMHO. Sorry for the rant and yes I am a service manager of an independent shop in the DFW area and I see shops with flush machines abuse the use of them but I/WE recommend only things the vehicle needs and don't just change it to change it. We are in it for the long run to keep customers and not just try to make sales for the week.
 
Got me all worked up on the power steering flushes I forgot about the fuel services. I would pass on them and go with what everybody else says and pass on them and use seafoam. Unless you run poor gas through your engine most gasolines use their own cleaner that keeps the lines clean as well. If you are always running it to empty with the fuel light on then you run the risk of sucking up sand/dirt that settles to the bottom of the tank and I don't know of anything you can run throught the fuel system that will disolve sand.
As far as the alignment goes ask them to show you what needs to be done and why they think that. I have no problem showing my customers what repairs they need done. We have a huge gap to over come when your and honest shop. We have seen plenty of horror stories and try to prevent this from happening. Hope this helps.

PS anytime you have your car at any shop make them show you what they wanna do. It's always go to make them have that accountablity for the shop and for the poeple they have working there.
 
It's your 4R. If my power steering looks dark, i would change it b/c it wasn't dark when i bought the 4R. Tho there maybe nothing wrong going on, but i would not wait for something wrong to happen. A preventive maintenance thing.
 
MikesToy said:
It's your 4R. If my power steering looks dark, i would change it b/c it wasn't dark when i bought the 4R. Tho there maybe nothing wrong going on, but i would not wait for something wrong to happen. A preventive maintenance thing.
Click to expand...

I wonder how clear was your PS fluid. Toyota has been using ATF, aka Automatic Transmission Fluid in their power steering system for many many years(not just trucks), if yours came with regular power steering fluid, something is wrong.
 
asm said:
Transmission Fluid flush every 15000 miles (mind you this is the WS fluid that Toyota strongly recommend against flushing with none WS type fluid)
Click to expand...

I could be wrong on this, but if your V6 tranny has a dipstick, then it uses Toyota T-IV.

WS is only used in sealed transmissions.
 
TC4Rnr said:
I wonder how clear was your PS fluid. Toyota has been using ATF, aka Automatic Transmission Fluid in their power steering system for many many years(not just trucks), if yours came with regular power steering fluid, something is wrong.
Click to expand...

When i opened my Power Steering cover, it looks clear to me. But the bottle looks tinted outside, so it looks kinda dirty. If there's something wrong with it, i thank God for watching over me b/c i kept it that way since it was new.
 
no, the bottle is clear

DSC08117.jpg
 
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